Freezing Weather Tips

During a freezing event, below are tips to try to avoid damage to your pool’s equipment and piping system. Each pool is different and the methods of how to protect your system is dependent on what type of system you have installed.

The best thing you can do for your pool equipment during a freeze event is to keep the water moving throughout your system.

In general, all pumps need to be on when the temperature is at or below 32ºF. (Cleaner/Booster pumps are an exception because the main filter pump moves water through the booster pump even when the booster pump itself is not powered on.)

In the event of a power loss during a freeze event, water will not be able to be pushed through your system by your pump. There are some tips you can do to minimize the damage caused to your pool’s equipment. These steps and a link to Pentair’s website for additional information is listed below.


Computer Automation Systems

(Pentair EasyTouch)

Most computer automated systems, like Pentair’s EasyTouch System, includes a feature called “Freeze Protection”. This feature automatically enable when the outside air temperature gets closer to freezing, generally around 35ºF. All circuits that were assigned to “Freeze Protection” upon installation will be activated while in this state. It will automatically switch between Pool & Spa mode every 15 minutes as well. This process continues until the freezing conditions are over.

To learn more about freeze protection and how to see which circuits have this enabled, refer to your automation system’s user manual.

Mechanical Clock Timers with Variable Speed Filter Pump

(Pentair IntelliFlo)

If you have a manual clock timer controlling your pool’s booster/cleaner pump and other sanitizer but your pool’s filter pump is a “Always-On” variable speed pump (such as a Pentair IntelliFlo pump), you do remove your mechanical timer clips but you do need to adjust your variable speed pump’s schedule. You need to adjust the schedule to run for 23 hours and 59 minutes a day (you cannot set to run 24 hours/day).

We normal set the pump to run 23 hours a day when we startup your pool so you will need to adjust back to 23 hours runtime per day when the freeze event passes.

For instructions on how to set your Pentair IntelliFlo’s schedule, click here for the product installation manual and see page 15)

Again, having water moving through your pool’s pipes is the best protection from freeze damage. Ensure all other water feature pumps (waterfall, bubblers, sheers, water bowls, etc) that are manually controlled through switches or other devices are also enabled while temperatures are at or below 32ºF.

Mechanical Clock Timers with Single-Speed Filter Pump

(Pentair WhisperFlo)

If you have a manual clock timer controlling your pool’s filter pump and cleaner pump, you need to do a few things to prepare your system for a freezing event. On the filter pump’s time clock, remove any “OFF” clips and switch “Manual Lever” below to ON. Make sure your filter pump is running at this time. The pump should continue to run until you come back to manually turn it off. After the freeze event has passed, you can reinstall the “OFF” clips back to the time clock.

Again, having water moving through your pool’s pipes is the best protection from freeze damage. Ensure all other water feature pumps (waterfall, bubblers, sheers, water bowls, etc) that are manually controlled through switches or other devices are also enabled while temperatures are at or below 32ºF.

Sutro Water
Testing Devices

If the monitor is subjected to freezing temperatures then the water and reagents inside could freeze and damage the monitor and/or cartridge so we recommend storing your monitor inside when the temperature will be below 40℉ just to be safe as the operating range is from 36℉ - 105℉ for the reagents and hardware. 

Here are the steps to take when removing your monitor:

Temporary Removal - (Shocking, pool repair, party, et cetera)

  1. Log into my.mysutro.com 

  2. Click on the "My Membership" tab.

  3. Click the Pause Readings button to prevent the monitor from taking readings while it is out of the water.

  4. Remove the monitor from the water and store it in a safe place.

  5. Once you are ready to put it back in the water simply return to the subscription tab and restart readings.

Loss of Power Event

While having water move through the pipes is the best protection against freezing conditions, this is not possible during a loss of power event. Below are steps you can do to help minimize damage to your pool and equipment during a loss of power event. These steps should only be done in the event of power loss as running your pumps if a far better option in freezing conditions.

  • Turn off your breakers. While you may not have power now, the first thing you should do is turn off all electrical breakers to your pool so that when the power does return, you can assess your pool in a controlled environment before everything turns back on and potentially causes more damage.

  • Remove lids, drain plugs & strainer pots. During freezing conditions, frozen water expands and needs a place to go. Removing the lids & strainer pots from your pumps will allow the freezing water extra space for the built up pressure. You also need to remove the drain plugs from your pump pot, pump volute, heater (2x), BioShield UV manifold (2x), and multi-port valve. While most frozen plugs can be removed by hand, you might need pliers for extra leverage.

  • Open all valves. Similar to removing lids, opening valves can help relieve pressure in your system. Opening all 2-way, 3-way, and filter’s air relief valve can help reduce damage.